The great victory at the west gate, coupled with the steadfast defense at the north gate, meant Datong had held.
At the same time, Yang Hong of Xuanfu sent out troops and drove the Oirats' eighty-thousand-strong central army fifty li north.
At the same time, Datong Prefecture and Xuanfu each dispatched a great army to sweep up the remaining Oirat forces in the rear. The Ming Dynasty's defense line had been drawn up once more, giving the Imperial Court a chance to catch its breath.
Only then did Zhu Qiyu have the time to ask about the investigation into the Emperor's assassination.
The ministers were no fools. Once the initial shock and grief had passed, they knew that birdman was not one of Yesen's men.
They had merely pinned it on Yesen for the time being in order to restore morale.
The situation at the time was this: no matter who that birdman was, the Emperor's misfortune was all Yesen's fault.
Had he not rebelled, captured the Emperor, and tried to use him as a hostage to threaten the Ming Dynasty, none of this would have happened.
So Yesen did not deserve to be wronged by bearing this charge.
But while that explanation might satisfy the common people, it could not satisfy the Empress Dowager, Prince Cheng, or the entire Imperial Court—much less the history books.
They had to uncover the truth.
Thus, even as they fought and defended the city these past few days, they had not forgotten to send people to investigate the birdman.
The giant bird and its rider, including the bow and arrows in his hands, were described one by one by eyewitnesses who had been atop the city walls that day. Artists produced countless portraits before combining them into the most accurate likeness.
Even Pan